Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-30
Jacob Sharp, the Bribe-Giver, Declare
Guilty as CHARGED

Gulty as Charged.
NEW YORK, June o9th.-The thirty-
fourth and last day of the Sharp trial
dawnei bright and clear. The aged de-
fendant shutfied into Court through one
door as Judge Barrett came in at another.
He appeared much more feeble than usual,
walking with great difficulty to his place.
delay OF ten minutes was occasioned al
the request of Mr.. Stickney. before he
commenced TO sum up. When Sticknev's
address was ended, an adjournment until .
P. NJ. was had. After recess Colonel Eel
lows, Tor the State, addressed the jury, re-
viewing the case and evidence at great
length. After he closed Judge Barrett
proceeded TO charge the jury. He began
by saying that this was the first time
IN the history of our jurisprudence when a
man had been made to face a charge oI
giving bribe. Both to give and receive
bribes were crimes The Court gave the
law on bribery, and went on to say that
the only direct evidence that money had
been given was that one Delacy had given
money. 1t is not necessary that the per.
son charged should give the money with
his own hand. Delacy is the fountain.
head, and all who are proven to be con.
nected near to or far away from the foun.
tain-head are guilty. If Delacy received
the money from Richmond, and Rich.
mond again from Sharp, then Sharp is
guilty. If Sharp had a guilty knowledge
and aided or abetted IN any way, then he
is guilty. Judge Barrett believed it had been
clearly shown that Fullgraii was the briber
If the jury believed that Delacy bribed
him with $4,000, then the jury must ask
Who bribed Delacy? Any person who was
behind Delacy in the matter was as guilty
The Judge reviewed the contributory
evidence of Sharp's lobby work at Albany
to get the railroad bill passed, and having
succeeded, at once set TO work to get the
Broadway franchise. The Court added
. His anxiety caused him to do anything tC
Illustrate his opponents in obtaining the
benefits of his efforts. This was
Sharp's motive. He had spent lifetime
in the hope of material reward He was
ready to do anything to obtain that re.
ward. This was a matter of life and death
to the Seventh Avenue road, and as Di.
rector he had a motive, while he was to OBJ
tain personal reward in bonds which were
to be guaranteed.
The Judge then looked up the story oi
the issuance of 100000 worth of bonds
and the disposition of the money. which
has been fully recounted in the past evi-
dence. He told the jury that if they had
evidence and believed that Kerr and Foshay
used tins as corruption fund with
out the knowledge of Sharp, then
they should acquit Sharp. There
is abundant evidence that there were falls
fed entries by Sharp himself The jury
must determine whether Sharp had con-
nection with fixing" Aldermen. OF
whether his use of that expression was an
innocent one. The Judge further instruct
ed the jury they must not be influenced by
the prisoners age or infrmity, nor By the
fact that he did not take the stand in his
own defense.
The Jury then retired, and after an alb
sence of thirteen minutes returned with a
verdict of guilty, with recommendation
to mercy. The aged prisoners head
dropped. He was removed TO the iail
Sentence will be passed July 18th The
penalty is not more than ten years at hard
labor, or a fine of 5000, or both A new
trial will be asked.
The verdict was reached on the first
ballot. As Sharp stepped to the walk on
his arrival at the Jail, he said Boys, now
that it's ali over, l tell ycu that never
gave one penny to Alderman Fullgraff, Oh
any other Aldermen, and had no hand in
bribing Aldermen" With this the old
nan seemed to break down.